Volatile ex-Hurricane Ophelia has sparked "danger to life" warnings of 80mph winds, heavy downpours and large waves as it continues to hurtle towards the UK.

The country is on course to be thrashed by the remnants of the storm system, which has set the record for the strongest hurricane to hit east of the Atlantic.

Weather officials have warned of a "danger to life from flying debris", with gale-force gusts expected in coastal areas and particularly in Northern Ireland where an amber weather alert has been issued.

The worst of the conditions are predicted to centre mainly to the north and west of the country, where road, rail, air and ferry disruption, power cuts and lack of mobile phone coverage will be likely.

However, gusts could approach 80mph across central Scotland and parts of north-west England, with tidal waves possible.

In the Eastern region, conditions are expected to be less serious as the wind peters out from the west.

The forecast for the Cambridge area today is largely dry and sunny, with cloud thickening later, and then a blustery breeze developing during the evening.

The maximum temperature today (Monday October 16) is predicted to be 24 °C.

The storm was 200 miles from arriving on the coast of Ireland at around 7.30am this morning (Monday October 16) according to the Met Office.

Forecaster Katie Greening, of The Weather Channel, said Ophelia will become a deep low pressure system today (Monday October 16) as it approaches the UK, with some stormy conditions expected.

She said: "Ophelia will begin to weaken to a strong and vigorous baroclinic low, while entering the mid-latitudes and cooler waters but retain its tropical characteristics with a relatively warm core and powerful winds.

"At the moment, the worst of the conditions look set to be over Ireland and more especially the west."

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Dr. Dave Reynolds, senior forecaster of The Weather Channel, said there is a danger to life, especially for parts of Ireland, with moderate risk to structural damage likely and high risk of trees being uprooted.

He added: "Branches will be torn off many trees, roads will be blocked by falling debris and flooding and blackouts are likely as debris fall on the low voltage distribution network and (moderate risk) lower circuits of the transmission network."

The first yellow warning is in place from 12pm to midnight on Monday October 16, alongside an amber warning with Northern Ireland braced for 80mph gusts.

Up to 18 people were killed and 15 million trees uprooted while 115mph winds resulted in more than £1billion damage across the south of England.

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